Order Cases Online
The files located in the Tennessee Supreme Court Cases represent an especially valuable resource for historical and genealogical research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives [TSLA].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1871 | Andrews v. State & O'Toole v. State & Custar v. State | Possession of Illegal Weapons | West | Range: 84 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 10 | 8 | Order A Copy | ||
View Entry | 1876 | A.H. Hefflebaum v. James T. Hoppers | Madison | Wrongful Possession |
Articles in question include 2 copper stills, 2 wash tubs, 2 cider press crates, 40 cider barrels, & other equipment. |
West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 36 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1916 | A. J. McCorkle v. Sam Scott et al. | Gibson | Possession of Land |
Additional Defendants: N. P. Scott, Mary Flowers, and Ellis Flowers. The plaintiff claimed ownership of land in Gibson County in possession of defendants. Case is filed in two folders. |
West | Range: 79 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1419 | 444 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1923 | Appling & Sons v. L. E. Lowery | Shelby | Possession, Unlawful |
Plaintiffs are sued the defendant for unlawful possession of 2 black mare mules, 1 one-horse wagon, 1 two-horse wagon, 1 jersey milk cow, 1 spotted milk cow, 2 jersey heifer calves, plow gear, tools, and crops, which were sold to him on credit, and has not been repaid. Property does not exceed $400 in value. |
West | Range: 78 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1705 | 181 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | B. Elder v. G. C. Williams | Gibson | Possession of Stolen Property | West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 36 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1833 | Catherine Pharris v. Enock Carter | Jackson | Possession, Unlawful |
Enock Carter unlawfully possessed a 40 year-old Slave named Hannah, who belonged to Catherine Pharris |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 190 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1894 | C. E. James v. Thomas King & William Washington | Hamilton | Possession of Land |
Thomas B. Vanhorn sold some land to Missouri King dec. 1873. She was wife of Thomas King and mother of Mamie King dec. 1887. After Missouri’s death, Thomas abandoned the child and land. Mamie sold some of the land to Washington, who sold it to Napoleon Loder, who sold it to James. After Mamie died, Thomas returned to take possession of the land. James here filed for possession. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2046 | 108 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1882 | Constantine Schmidt v. Victor Fletcher et al | Davidson | Possession |
Add. Defendants: H. & Ella Ziebart. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 508 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | Corley v. Corley | Possession of Land |
Incomplete file. This is an opinion of a case that defendant was lawfully in possession of some property but not entitled to exclusive enjoyment of the profits. Specific type of property unnamed. County and court not listed |
East | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1598 | 1 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1879 | David Starr v. Joseph Duncan | Hardin | Possession, Unlawful |
The dispute arose over the rightful ownership of a cow and calf. |
West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 139 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | D.C. Mooney v. L. J. Johnston, et al. | Hamilton | Possession, Unlawful |
The plaintiff claimed that the defendants have wrongfully entered upon a certain lot and are now in possession thereof holding wrongfully and unlawfully and the plaintiff is entitled to possession of said property. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1825 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1841 | Den Lesee of John Capps v. Bouyer Bullard | Claiborne | Possession of Land |
John Capps leased a track of land from defendant for a term of 10 years. When defendant in possession of land & refused to turn it over, plaintiff sued for possession rights and cost of suit. Note hand drawn map of tract in dispute on page 43. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1148 | 45 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Dan Beets v. State | Possession of Illegal Weapons | East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1807 | 17 | Order A Copy | ||
View Entry | 1936 | D. L. Anderson& W. E. Branstetter v. S. H. Jones et al. | Morgan | Possession of Land |
Additional defendants: M. M. Goad, admr. Of John A. Jones dec., Oscar Shaver, deputy sheriff of Morgan County, Mary A. Jones, and Izza Dillon |
East | Range: 8 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 937 | 131 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1936 | Frank Wooten v. State | Hamilton | Possession |
Cause of action: Possessing intoxicating liquor. |
East | Range: 18 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1999 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | F. A. Turpin v. State | Roane | Possession |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he possessed an "apparatus." Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 80 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1898 | F. H. Peck v. L. K. Compton | Shelby | Wrongful Possession |
Over mastiff named "Rex." |
West | Range: 82 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 674 | 48 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | G. M. Shepard v. C. N. O. and F.P. R. Company | Scott | Wrongful Possession |
The plaintiff claimed that the defendants had in their possession on skiff with six oars, two axes, one pike pole, one pick hammer, one sack of cooking utensils and two cart hooks which said company has wrongfully seized. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1833 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1880 | Herman Schafer v. C. L. Strickland& W. R. Neighbors | Lauderdale | Possession of Land | West | Range: 84 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 150 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1885 | Henry Ashcroft v. State | Decatur | Possession of Illegal Weapons |
Also includes State v. Henry Ashcroft. Ashcroft was convicted of carrying a pocket and belt pistol and revolver. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 290 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | H. F. Bailey v. Charles M. Davis | Washington | Possession, Unlawful |
Dispute over a Hamilton Organ valued at $80. The organ was originally purchased in 1886 by H. F. Bailey from a door to door salesman, N. M. Cooper. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1807 | 62 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1898 | Hack Drivers Union #1 of Memphis v. Timothy McCoy | Shelby | Possession, Unlawful |
The union is sued McCoy, previous union treasurer, for $76, the balance in the treasury at the end of his term. McCoy is refusing to relinquish the money. The folder also contains two legal briefs. |
West | Range: 82 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 654 | 48 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1937 | Harry Ambrester v. State | Marion | Possession |
Possession and transportation of 25 cases of intoxicating liquors, among them Orange Gin, Log House, Old Mr. Boston, Dixie Dew, Cream of Kentucky, and White Swan Gin. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1110 | 80 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1836 | James H. Pass v. Anthony Dibrell | White | Wrongful Possession |
Claim is that $10,000 worth of property, including two slaves, were wrongfully taken. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 199 | 86 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | John H. House v. Minor Cosby | Sumner | Wrongful Possession | Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 75 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1882 | James K. Conner v. John B. Inman | Madison | Possession |
Dispute over possession of a mule. |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 218 | 9 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1886 | John S. Claybrooke v. M. M. Lindsay et al | Lauderdale | Possession, Unlawful |
Additional Defendants: Francis Lindsay, Charles Washington (Colored), Albert Lea, Joel L. Lea, Charles E. Butler Sr. Cause of action: Plaintiff alleges that the defendants have taken unlawful possession of his land. |
West | Range: 83 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 299 | 386 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1886 | John Scheibler v. T. D. Coopwood& J. L. Coopwood | Shelby | Possession, Unlawful | West | Range: 83 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 399 | 62 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1887 | Joe Jackson v. State | Montgomery | Possession of Illegal Weapons |
carrying a pistol unlawfully |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 696 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | Jesse Adler v. Isaac W. Campbell et al | Hancock | Wrongful Possession |
Add. defendant: Alexander Campbell. The plaintiff is the surviving partner in a business where he contracted with a Trustee of the Methodist Church, namely the defendants to whom they furnished $150 worth of materials. The defendants took $75 each out of the funds for materials, for which the plaintiff took them to court to be prosecuted for acting in bad faith. The church house blew down in 1865 while housing a great deal of valuable material and the defendants unlawfully took possession of it. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1215 | 56 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1920 | J. H. Looney v. K. B. Waldrup | Shelby | Possession, Unlawful |
Plaintiff avers that the defendant unlawfully possessed a 1919 Ford automobile that rightfully belonged to the plaintiff. |
West | Range: 78 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1648 | 175 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1920 | James Stanley v. State | Wilson | Possession of Illegal Weapons | Middle | Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 153 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1861 | John Baxter, et al. v. James McMahan, et al. | Cocke | Possession of Land |
Additional plaintiffs: Joel Dennis, Robert Volentine, Thomas Cotton. Writ issued to force plaintiffs off the land. parties in later suit over land in John Baxter, et al. v. James McMahan in ET 1212. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 35 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1900 | J. F. Hirt v. George D. Cherry | Weakley | Possession, Unlawful |
Unlawful possesion of property which contains a large lot of cask staves. |
West | Range: 81 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 773 | 186 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1903 | J. N. Falls v. P. J. Moran | Shelby | Adverse Possession |
Plaintiff alleges that defendant has illegally taken possession of a strip of land that belongs to him & has enclosed said strip within a fence. Defendant would not vacate the strip when ordered to do so after plaintiff sold the lot of which it was a part causing the purchasers to recovery the plot back to Falls. Plaintiff now sues to recover land plus the $210 commission that he paid to real estate agents to make the sale & which said agents refuse to return. |
West | Range: 81 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 859 | 126 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1911 | J. H. Austin v. Ruben Tipton | Lake | Possession of Land |
Plaintiff Austin claimed that they had leased their 150 acres to Tipton for 1 year but that he refused to leave the property. |
West | Range: 80 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1288 | 41 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1915 | J. T. Trains & Bro v. R. B. Barfield | Lauderdale | Possession |
40 acres of cotton and corn |
West | Range: 79 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1386 | 156 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | Kelly Smith v. State | Possession of Illegal Weapons |
Kelly Smith was convicted and fined a fee of $50 for carrying a pistol |
East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 786 | 1 | Order A Copy | ||
View Entry | 1910 | Kansas City Memphis & Birmingham Rail Road v. J. A. Sigman | Shelby | Possession of Land |
Case is effectively an eminent domain case as the rail road is sued to gain the ability to purchase property owned by the defendant for the purpose of constructing a connecting track to the plaintiffs existing tracks. |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1242 | 211 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | Kathleen Hale Vander Pyl v. Annie Isbel Hale | Washington | Possession of Land |
Complainant is the owner of a tract of land that belonged to her father, Thomas Hale, dec. The land was devised to her by her grandfather, James E. Hale's last will & testament. Defendant is unlawfully claiming some interest or right or posession of said land. Defendant is denying the plaintiff posssesion of the land. |
East | Range: 10 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1513 | 94 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Leola Duncan v. State | Hamilton | Possession |
Duncan appealed her conviction for possession of liquor. |
East | Range: 10 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1361 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | Maggie A. Krider v. A. Michaels | Shelby | Wrongful Possession |
Plaintiff's father, John Krider, also testifies. The suit concerns a piano worth $354.83 that the plaintiff claims the defendant has in his possession, but which legally belongs to her; defendant claims he bought it honestly at an estate sale. The plaintiff seems willing to settle either for the return of the piano or the payment of $354.83. No cause of action is actually listed in the record. |
West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 73 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Memphis City Schools v. Dillard & Coffin & the Taxing District of Shelby County | Shelby | Possession of Land |
The original bill in this cause was filed to sustain the right of the Board of Education , under a grant, a certain lot of ground situated on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets in the taxing District of Shelby County |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 331 | 68 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1898 | Millie Garvin v. O. K. Robertson et al. | Shelby | Possession of Land |
Millie Garvin is disputing a writ of possession that was presented to her to force her off of her land. She states that she knew nothing of a previous case in which her land was to be sold. |
West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 709 | 140 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | Maria Joyce et al.v. Jonathan L. H.Tomlin et al | Madison | Adverse Possession |
Additional Complainants: Thomas E. & Katie Joyce, children of Patrick Joyce. Maria Joyce his wife. Additional Defendants: John Y. Keith; the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Co.; A. S. & E. H. Ewing; C. N. Davis; William Butler Duncan & Patrick Joyce. Complainant maintaining her homestead rights against defendants. Patrick Joyce temporarily residing in Arlington, TX. |
West | Range: 84 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 181 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | Nathan Honeycutt et al. v. W. N. Shell Jr. et al. | Carter | Possession of Land |
Plaintiffs Nathan Honeycutt and D. M Simerly sued the defendants William Shell Jr., Robert B. Bradly, and J. B. Miller (Deputy Sheriff of Coates County) for failure to notify them of an issue with land/property taxes that resulted in their attempt to seize the property. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1803 | 135 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1922 | Posie Lowry v. State | Shelby | Possession of Illegal Weapons | Middle | Range: 33 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 435 | 33 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1819 | Robert Farquharton, et al. v. Montgomery Bell, et al. | Davidson | Possession of Land |
Defendants: Montgomery Bell, Jenkins Whiteside, Thomas Hill, John Catson, Patrick Darby. Plaintiffs: Robert Farquarton, William Park, John Nichol. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 178 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1841 | Right Johnson v. John Billinglsey | Bledsoe | Possession, Unlawful |
Ben Bridgman recovered a judgement from Thomas Moonyham for $40. Moonyham had hogs that were to be taken in payment, but they were moved to John Billingsly's property, apparently in order to avoid the attachment of the hogs to the debt. Billingsly was sued to recover the hogs. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1875 | R. A. Lewis, Trustee, use of M. Auberg et al. v. George Wynn | Lake | Wrongful Possession |
Lewis is also sued on behalf of Smith Parker, W. B. Johnson, A. C. Terrell, W. H. Reynolds, Co., and E. E. Westbrook. Wynn is in possession of livestock and farm equipment to which the plaintiffs insist they are entitled. "Auberg" may be "Amberg." |
West | Range: 83 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 243 | 22 | Order A Copy |